Wednesday, February 6, 2013

The Book That's Tattered at Our House

Jamy discovered a book years ago when Jackson was a
baby. I remember him bringing it home,
thrilled at what he’d discovered. A
children’s bible storybook that tells the whole story of God and his great
rescue plan. Every single story between its
pages, from creation to the flood to the new earth points to Jesus. It’s amazing. I've never found another children’s book that so clearly ties everything
that happens in the Bible to Christ and His work to redeem a people to himself.

No, the Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of
heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story
about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost
treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace,
his throne – everything – to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most
wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see – the best thing about this Story is – it’s true.

There are lots of stories in the Bible, bit all the stories are
telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes
to rescue them.

So from the day Jamy happened across this
amazing little book in a bookstore, we've read it to our
children. Every night, with our kids curled up beside us on the couch we
pull it out. Our kids each have their own copy that's falling apart and taped
up from being loved on so much.

Here's a video of one of the stories of the events surrounding Jesus birth:

I’ll be honest. I sometimes go to
this book when I need to be reminded of the big picture. While reading the
stories to Isabelle and Jackson I often get choked up and hold back tears as
God pierces my heart with His truth. I know counselors and pastors who use this
book as a "go to" for adults to bring us back to the centrality of
Jesus and simple truths.

Rules couldn't save them. Only God could save
them.

(Moses and the Ten Commandments from Exodus 16-17)

God will heal the terrible sickness in our hearts.

(The little slave girl and Naaman from 2 Kings 5)

The Rescuer will come. Look for him. Watch for him.
Wait for him. He will come!

(Prophecies from Isaiah)

Jesus is making the sad things come untrue. He is mending
God’s broken world.

(The story of Jarius’daughter from Luke 8)

Jesus takes the nothing and makes it everything. He takes
the emptiness and fills it up.

(The feeding of the 5,000 from Matthew 14)

And we can all can quote by memory this phrase that’s woven into the
fabric of these pages and now into our hearts that describes God’s love for all of us: